The Advocate - 02 - The Advocate's Betrayal (7 page)

“Only that I have concurrence for any relative detention.”

“So ordered. Visitation will be supervised for both parents,” the judge ordered. Mr. Kemp grumbled something to his attorney. Bob calmed him down and did not address the court. Judge Hekman continued. “And I don’t want any relative supervision of visits. The department will supervise pending the trial. Psychological evaluations ordered for both parents and both children, assuming little Kurt is verbal enough to have one. The evaluations are for disposition purposes only. See you all in three weeks. Case is adjourned.”

Wagner stood up. “There’s one other thing, Your Honor. My client is requesting a different social worker be appointed on this case. She believes the social worker is prejudiced and cannot make a fair assessment of this case.”

“Prejudiced?” the judge said as she snapped her head up.

“Did you just say prejudiced?”

“Yes, Your Honor, that is my client’s contention. She just wants a fair trial.”

Judge Hekman shook her head, never one to hide her attitude. “Request denied. Good day, Mr. Wagner.”

7

As soon as Sabre finished her morning court calendar, she drove to Las Colinas. She checked in, showing her identification. “My investigator will be here shortly. When he arrives, would you please bring him into the interview room?”

“Sure, Counselor,” the deputy responded.

Betty approached the interview room, escorted by a deputy sheriff. She sat down on the opposite side of the glass and picked up the phone. The sheriff said, “Ring when you’re done,” and walked off.

Sabre nodded, but the deputy left before he could see her response.

“Hi, Betty. You look tired.”

“Yeah, not much sleep last night. The blankets are made of wool and they’re scratchy. I’m allergic to wool.” She raised her sleeve and showed the red bumps forming up and down her arm. “You know I’m not picky. I’ve slept in some pretty awful places, but this place is horrible. Are you going to be able to get me out of here?”

“The judge may hear bail arguments at arraignment. I don’t know for sure what this particular judge will do, but it’s always difficult to get bail in capital cases. You know I’ll try.”

“It doesn’t matter if he does grant bail. I don’t have any money or a house for collateral. I doubt if they’ll take our old, beat-up trailer.”

“Betty, if he grants bail, we’ll find a way to get you out. Let’s just take it one step at a time.”

“Okay, so where are we?”

“Here’s how it works. The police make the arrest, but the prosecuting attorney decides whether or not to file charges, and if so, which ones. Then they file the documents with the court alleging the charges against you. They set an arraignment hearing at which you are formally advised of your charges and your constitutional rights. Bail may be set at that time, but in this type of case, the judge often does not grant it. Your arraignment hearing is set for Tuesday.” Sabre struggled with this process. She didn’t want to be explaining these things to her friend. She took a deep breath. “Betty, I’m so sorry.”

Betty raised her head slightly, her mouth turned down, and just nodded.

Sabre continued. “Look, I don’t have the police report, so I don’t know what they’re claiming as probable cause for the arrest, but Nelson said he’d try to have it for me this afternoon. As soon as I know anything, I’ll pass it on to you. In the meantime, I’ve hired a private investigator. His name is JP Torn. He’s the best, and he’s coming by this afternoon to meet you. He’s going to help you through this, but you need to tell him anything he asks. It’s all confidential, just as if you were talking to me. We need to know anything that might help us find the real killer. Something may not seem important to you, but it could be the lead that points us in the right direction.”

“I’ll do the best I can,” Betty responded without looking up, her elbow on the table propping up her head.

The door opened and JP walked in, carrying his ever present black, felt cowboy hat in his hand, his boots clicking across the floor. Sabre realized these were two of her closest friends, and yet they’d never met. When she introduced JP to Betty, she noticed Betty sat up a little straighter.

JP said, “Nice to meet you, Betty. I wish it were under better circumstances. I want you to know you’re in very capable hands with Sabre, and between the two of us we’re going to find out who did this and get you out of here. Are you willing to help?”

“Yes,” Betty said, looking into JP’s calm, hazel eyes.

“Good, you’ll need to answer all my questions. Some of them will seem inane, but humor me. I have a reason for every question I ask. I’ll be starting with your background, where you lived before, who you knew, etc.” Betty looked down, losing eye contact with JP. He continued. “I’ll need to know everything I can about John as well. There’s a lot at stake here.”

“I know. And thanks for believing in me,” Betty responded, still not looking JP in the eye.

“Hey, Sabre says you’re innocent. That’s all I need. Sabre doesn’t lie.” He glanced at Sabre and smiled.

Sabre said, “I need to get back to court. Are you staying, JP?”

“Yes, but I’ll walk you part way.” Sabre said her goodbyes, and they walked to the end of the hallway.

“She’s holding something back,” JP said as soon as they were out of earshot.

“You think?” Sabre was baffled by the comment. She truly believed in Betty’s innocence, but she also trusted JP’s instincts. Reconciling herself, she said, “Well, we all have our secrets, don’t we? But I know she didn’t kill John.”

“Okay, that’s the way we proceed. I’ll call you later.”JP returned to Betty and began his interview, asking about the details of the night of the murder, establishing her timeline, looking for anything they may have missed. Betty’s responses matched Sabre’s account of events. He was starting to agree with Sabre. Betty was hiding something, but he didn’t think it was the murder. And he knew it must be big, or why wouldn’t she share it with them and help get her off the hook? He continued his interview with Betty, asking probing questions and taking copious notes. An hour and a half later, he folded up his tattered notebook. “That’s it for today. Would you mind if I look around your trailer to see if I can find anything to help our case?”

“What do you expect to find?” Betty pushed herself back in the chair.

“You can’t know a horse until you ride it,” JP said, throwing one of his granddaddy’s lines at her.

Betty looked puzzled.

“I’m sorry…. I don’t know what I might find or what I’m really looking for until I look. Do you mind if I go in?”

“I guess not. Sabre has the key.”

“You’ve been very helpful, but you look beat. I’ll be back if I need anything else.” JP stood up, put on his hat, and rang for the guard.

JP left and the deputy escorted Betty back to her cell. It was a step up from the holding tank at the station. It felt more like a large dorm room than a cell, except Betty knew she couldn’t leave. Rows of stainless steel bunks lined the walls, each covered with a thin mattress, flat sheets, and a wool blanket. A row of block wall shower stalls stood in the middle of the room. On the back side of the showers was a row of stalls for metal toilets and sinks, all with open fronts, allowing no privacy for personal bodily functions. The block walls on the showers and toilets stood low enough for the guards, or anyone else who chose, to look over. Everything had the same odor; the clothes, the bedding, and the rooms all smelled of cheap detergent.

Betty went to her bunk, lay down, and tried to sleep. The noise hurt her head and her mind raced. Her life, as she knew it, would never exist again. John was gone, yet the nightmare continued. She prayed Sabre would be able to help her. It all seemed so hopeless. She tried to sleep to avoid the guilt she felt, but the torment of the vision of John’s bloody body wouldn’t allow it.

Had she done the right thing?

8

Sabre left Las Colinas and drove to her office to catch up on a few things. Jack, another attorney who shared the building with her, walked out the door, briefcase in one hand and his suit jacket in the other.

“Hi, Sabre. How was your day?” He stopped on the step, his full head of blond and gray speckled hair glistening in the sun.

“I’ve had better. They booked Betty for the murder of her husband. I just came from seeing her.”

“Little red-headed Betty?”

“Yup.”

“I’m so sorry. Are you going to handle the case?” Jack asked.

“Yes. She can’t afford anyone else, and I don’t want her to have a public defender. I know she’s innocent.”

“Do you think that’s wise? Representing her? It’s difficult when you’re so close to someone,” he said, putting his hand on her shoulder.

“I know, but she needs me.” Sabre’s face lit up and her voice sparked. “Unless you want the case? I’d be glad to second chair.”

“No thanks. It’s not exactly my forte.”

“Yeah, me neither,” Sabre said, a little quieter.

“Oh, you can handle it all right, but aren’t you a potential witness?”

“Yeah, but that shouldn’t be a problem. I didn’t really see the crime. They’ll just want me to establish the time frame and attest that Betty was out of my sight for a period of time. The DA will probably let me stipulate to that and if not, Bob can cross-examine me. I just don’t want to screw it up.”

“Listen. Legally, you’ll do a great job. I just worry because you’re too involved. I worry about your state of mind. I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but I’ve been at this at least twenty years longer than you and I’ve taken cases I shouldn’t have. I know what it’s like.” He gave her shoulder a little squeeze. “Sabre, what happens if she actually did kill him? Have you thought about that?”

“She didn’t. I know she didn’t.”

“Well then, what if she’s innocent and you lose? That’s even worse. Are you going to be able to handle that?”

“Probably not.” She paused. “I guess I better not lose.”

He shook his head. “Well, if there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.” Jack looked at Sabre, compassion visible in his eyes. Sabre knew he was concerned for her well-being. “And Sabre, please don’t stay in the office too late. Elaine has already left and I still don’t like your working here alone at night. I know that whole mess with the stalker is over, but there are plenty of other nuts out there besides him.”

“I’ll be fine. Just go on home. I’ll be leaving here in less than half an hour. I have a date tonight.” Sabre smiled. Thinking about Luke lifted her spirits.

After Jack left, Sabre checked her phone messages. Elaine, the tall, short-haired blonde receptionist, had them all sorted for her with the most urgent messages on top. Elaine had worked there since before Sabre rented the office space. She was Jack’s personal secretary and the receptionist for the other two attorneys in the building. Her services were included in the monthly rent. Efficient as she was knowledgeable, Elaine always delivered messages accurately and timely. She ensured office supplies were readily available. Most importantly, she always  treated clients with respect. Sabre would’ve loved to have her as a secretary, but Jack needed all of the time Elaine had to spare.

Sabre returned the urgent calls and flipped through the other messages, deciding they could wait. She gathered up the files she wanted to work on at home over the weekend. Since she started dating Luke, she didn’t work at the office as much.           

She often took her cases home with her and she’d toil over them while Luke worked on his computer, dealing with clients who needed glitches fixed on their programs from all across the United States. She wasn’t quite sure exactly what he did. When it came to technology, she learned only what she had to know to do her work. Beyond that, she really had no interest. She tried to understand his work, but it didn’t hold her attention long, and Luke didn’t seem to mind that she wasn’t interested. It was just one more thing she liked about him.

Sabre preferred leaving the office before dark, still not comfortable working late. For the most part, her life was good. She had always had good friends, and now she had Luke. It had been so long since she’d been this close to anyone. Luke could make all her problems fade away just by his presence.

As Sabre drove home to change her clothes for their date, she continued to think about Luke and how lucky she was to have him. For a few moments she was able to take her mind off John and Betty, but it didn’t last long. Seeing Betty in prison garb behind the glass partition at Las Colinas was a vision she had a hard time erasing from her mind. She was convinced of Betty’s innocence. She had known John and Betty for over four years, and in all that time she saw nothing but love between them. John’s eyes always lit up when Betty appeared and Betty reciprocated with genuine smiles. They held hands when they walked. They sat next to each other whenever they could. When one of them spoke, the other looked and listened. They would fuss at each other now and again, but even that was never anything serious. Neither of them had eyes for anyone else.

Sabre stopped at a stoplight near her apartment. She tried to think about her date with Luke, but her mind kept going back to Betty.
What if Jack was right? What if she lost the trial?
Betty’s life was in her hands. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel, feeling the ache in her stomach and the tension in her neck. The fear inside of her was interrupted by the ringing of the phone. “Hi Luke,” she answered.

“Hi babe. Do you mind driving over here tonight? I have a little surprise for you,” Luke said. “Oh, and bring your toothbrush.”

“Is that the surprise?”

“No, I’m sure you’re not surprised I want you to stay the night. I’ve been asking you that for the past six weeks. Just bring your beautiful body over here. I miss you.”

“What should I wear?”

“Nothing but a smile.”

“Can I put a trench coat over my smile?”

“Sure, if you can stand the heat and don’t expect to wear it long. It’s coming off as soon as you walk in the door.”